We think of Rosh HaShanah as the Jewish New Year, but it is not the New Year for the Jewish people. This is the time when we celebrate the New Year for the entire world and observe Yom Kippur as the time the entire world is judged. It is the most universal of Jewish celebrations - the world was created for all of humanity. The Torah teaches us that when the world was new God created the first human being b’tzelem Elohim, in the image of God. This is a foundational understanding: each and every human being is a reflection of the Divine. Whenever we look at any human being, each and every one, we must see a reflection of God. At this time of year let us remember the sanctity of every human, and every human being whose inherent sanctity is denied.

All over the world, including in America, human beings are enslaved and we must fight for them. In Leviticus 19:33-34 the Torah teaches: “And if a stranger lives with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. The stranger that lives among you shall be to you as the home-born among you, and you shall love him as yourself; for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.” Over and over we are told to protect the “stranger, the widow and the orphan” - the most vulnerable in society.

Slavery has become generally known as human trafficking. The conservative estimate is that there are at least 12 million people in the world who are enslaved. Slavery touches our lives all the time. Here in America, both foreign nationals and U.S. citizens have been indentified in cities, suburbs, and rural areas in all 50 states as well as in Washington, DC. Trafficked individuals work in homes, factories, restaurants, agriculture, and more. Worldwide, most slaves are forced to work in agriculture, mining, and prostitution. Certain products that are very much a part of our American lives, such as coffee, chocolate, and cars, may be traceable to slave labor and part of the supply chain of U.S.‐based international corporations, or American companies doing extensive business with overseas manufacturers and exporters.

In 2000, the United States enacted the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA). It is, once again, up for reauthorization.

Fight Hunger in Our CommunityMany congregations collect food or other goods that are needed in the community. Check your with your local synagogue to learn about opportunities to contribute on this Yom Kippur.